The first look of Mumbai'sLalbaugcha Rajawas unveiled on Thursday ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, which will be celebrated on Saturday, September 7. Parel’s Lalbaugcha Raja is undoubtedly the most famous idol of Lord Ganesha, known as “Navasacha Ganpati,” meaning the one who fulfils all wishes. It attracts millions of devotees every year.
The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal organises the celebration for this pandal. The mandal was founded in 1934 by the fishermen of the Koli community at Lalbaug Market. For more than eight decades, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati idol has been made and protected by the Kambli family. In fact, the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja is made at Kambli Arts, which holds the copyright for the face of Lalbaugcha Raja.
Located in Chinchpokli, Kambli Arts was started in 1920 by Ratnakar Kambli, a sculptor who participated in various festivals across Maharashtra. In 1935, he was commissioned by the organisers to create the idol and began the tradition of protecting Lalbaugcha Raja. After he died in 1952, his eldest son, Venkatesh, took over the business and responsibility of making the idol. In 2002, Ratnakar Madhusudan Kambli took charge, and currently, his eldest son, Santosh Ratnakar Kambli, manages Kambli Arts and continues the legacy of making the Lalbaugcha Raja's idol. In an earlier interview, Santosh had revealed that all members of the Kambli family are involved in creating the idol, with most of them having graduated from Mumbai's Sir J.J. School of Art. However, Santosh is a marketing graduate, and being a sculptor runs in his genes. He hasn't taken any professional training; instead, he learned the craft on the job.
Research is extremely important for creating the idol, and since themes change every year, careful selection is essential. The parts of Lord Ganesha's idol are made at the workshop of Kambli Arts, then taken to the pandal, assembled, and painted. The eyes are finally drawn by the head of the Kambli family who has been taking care of Lalbaugcha Raja.